"Program currently in use," were the words currently displayed on the terminal. "Hmm...I wonder..." He said as he opened the holodeck door and stepped inside. Sure enough, there it was. The large pool of blue water resting under a starry sky as lights illuminated the flora around. However the woman swimming in the pool was not part of his program. So he waited until he had her attention.
T'Pel stopped, knowing she was no longer alone and she turned to face the door and saw Captain Solok standing there with his hands behind his back, eye brow cocked as he looked at her, "Do you usually swim naked?" He asked calmly.
A little detail she had momentarily forgotten, "I find it is relaxing. Is there something you need, Captain?" She asked. He wasn't in uniform, but was wearing a black robe that went down to his knees.
"All the other holodecks are currently in use. You are using one of my programs. Would you mind my company?" He responded. T'Pel thought about it a moment, "Not at all. Be my guest, Captain." He gave a curt nod and began to remove his robe. It was silly but T'Pel had turned and dove under water, feeling it inappropriate to watch her Captain disrobe.
As she was swimming over to the edge of the pool she noticed something float to the bottom. One quick breath of air, she submerged again and swam down to see what it was. It was a rock and she picked it up, instantly becoming distracted by Solok diving into the pool and swimming toward the other side. T'Pel swam up for air and to set the rock on the side of the pool.
"Misdirection. A common tactic used by possible enemies," came Solok's voice. "Yes. I do not understand." She replied, eying his bare wet chest and the modest assortment of hair that covered it.
"How well are you trained in aquatic combat?" He asked before swimming over to her. Once he got closer he grabbed hold of the side of the pool.
She noticed he was also not wearing any sort of bathing suit. She made a precise effort to lock her eyes on his, "I would say I am more than adequately trained. I was actually warming up before starting my own program for such a purpose.
He cocked a brow and looked at the water, her hair was covering her breasts and her legs were keeping her afloat gracefully, "Then if you would find it acceptable, I would like to test you myself. More can be learned from your own experience than simply watching. Then perhaps we may both take on the computer as a team?" He asked, sensing something was lingering in the back of her mind.
"You want to combat me...personally?" T'Pel asked, surprised and unsure of what to think. Solok nodded, "I could use the practice. I assumed you took advantage of the Academy's aquatic program."
"You would be correct." she responded, her eyes betraying her concern as they moved to the water.
Vulcans had no need for modesty and neither did Betazoids. Being naked for her was not an issue and generally seeing others the same way had no effect on her. However Solok was her commanding officer, and for some reason the sight of his naked form in front of her had an effect. What kind she was not sure, but she was sure that he also had no intention of adorning clothing for this suggested training exercise. Her eyes returned to his and there was the slightest form of amusement on his face, "I assumed that since you seem to be comfortable with a lack of clothing in this setting, it would also be appropriate that I accommodate. Was I incorrect to make such a judgment?"
Admitting to her emotional response was not an option at this point and she knew he was fishing for it. Her expression remained unchanged and she cocked a brow, "Modesty is an emotional response as well as an illogical one. I simply was pondering how effective it would be in a combat simulation. Are you sure...nothing will get in the way? It would not be acceptable if I harmed my commanding officer."
He let go of the side of the pool and swam around to her other side, making sure to get as close to her without touching her, "Is that over confidence or are you simply that sure of your ability?" He asked curtly, grabbing a hold of the other edge as he prepared to push off for a lap.
T'Pel moved her back to the wall of the pool to give him more room, "We will see. I was simply implying that just because you are my commanding officer, I will not hold back."
Right before pushing off his eyes met hers and the slight smirk had returned, "I would certainly hope not." And with that he dove under the water and began his strokes. T'Pel watched intently, noticing his form. Calculated and precise. She cocked a brow, remembering what Ensign Emily Swiss once said about Ensign Tommy Baker's buttocks.
"Firm and rounded. His ass always looks good in his uniform." Emily smiled.
T'Pel pushed it from her mind, unsure what the human fascination with that particular area of their anatomy was. However, Ensign Baker was in uniform. Solok was not. His rear end seemed to meet Emily's description and she couldn't help but wonder what she would make of T'Pels new Captain.
She was getting side tracked and dove under the water to join Solok at the shallow end of the pool. Careful not to run into him she took up a spot three feet from his and emerged, brushing her hair from her face, "Where would you like to begin?" she asked calmly.
He thought a moment, attempting to remember when the last time he had sparred with someone in such a manner and he cocked a brow, "Would you like the offensive or the defense?" He asked. It had been quite a few years since the last time he had a live partner in this exercise and felt it best to let her make the choice.
"I prefer the defensive." T'Pel said before taking a step back. Attempting to make it appear all her weight was on her back foot and she let her arms float atop the water.
Solok nodded curtly again, "Very well." Her eyes were locked on his, intensely anticipating his first move. His hands shot through the water and gripped her leg and waist, attempting to force her under. T'Pel planted her free foot on his chest and pushed back, her head submerging as her body followed, flipping her around enough to break both of his grasps.
Distracted by the pressure in his chest he had let go and was now watching her brazenly attempt to swim between his legs, which he closed in on her waist and began to reach down for her feet only to get a face full of water as she had stood up forcing him to flip forward and be completely thrown off balance.
T'Pel backed away to give him a moment to either breath or attack again. The memory that she was usually accused of playing a little too rough with her brother as a child came flooding to the surface. However she knew she could not anger her Vulcan Captain as easily as her sibling, and she waited patiently, keeping a close eye on Solok.
The lieutenant had skill; there was no doubt in his mind now. Though there was a sufficient amount of water trying to seep into his lungs and he stood, coughing with his back to her. Solok whipped the water from his eyes and ran his fingers through his hair, "I underestimated you, T'Pel. My mistake." He said finally turning to her once he composed himself again.
"Are you alright?" She asked, genuinely concerned. For a second there he almost looked like a drowned rat. T'Pel cocked a brow, feeling a little amused, "Shall we continue?"
"I am well. I obviously am not as accustomed to water as you." He responded calmly, giving his lungs a rest.
"This was a sport for my brother and me when we were younger. Mainly he tried to drown me on more than one occasion. Suffice it to say he learned to regret it. Also, being attacked on Betazed once provided the motivation to keep in practice." She said, sinking into the water to float, conserving her energy.
His blue eyes looked her over, "Attacked?" He was noticing more that her figure was hardly all that muscular. She was proving that she relied more on agility, and he found this agreeable.
T'Pel looked to the water and moved her hair over one shoulder, "Azuma Stadi. I knew her from the time we lived on Betazed. Her and I...we did not get along. One day it seemed she was curious to see how well a Vulcan could swim and pushed me in. Much to her surprise, I could swim rather well. It did not please her as she jumped in and began to wrestle with me."
Solok got the impression that this was a tender subject for her and decided to change the subject, "Your brother, he is also a half breed?"
T'Pel's gaze shot to him and hardened. She hated that word, far more then she could ever admit, "Yes." He meant no disrespect she was sure, however it still stung especially in reference to her brother. "He is more inclined to his Betazoid side, however. He and I often are at ends with one another, but we have a strong bond."
Solok nodded, purposely ignoring the near glare he had just received, "Family is important. I believe I am ready to continue," he said, ending the conversation for the time being.
T'Pel stood again, waiting for him to make his move and prepared to swim past him, "I am as well."
This time he wasn't going to make the same mistakes and grabbed her arm, pulling her around to his chest, taking her other arm and locking it behind her back.
"He catches on quick." She thought and wrapped her legs around his knees and pulled, intentionally forcing them both under the water. He wasn't letting go and tried to free his legs. T'Pel used her knee to spin them in the water, putting Solok on the bottom as she pushed off with her feet, flipping her over his head and pulling one arm free. He still was not letting go and he pulled the one arm he currently had and lifted her out of the water by her waist and threw her several feet into deeper water.
His intention was to get her away from a solid surface as she was skilled in using it to her advantage. He dove under and swam to her as she was regaining her balance in an attempt to grapple her. This failed as she saw him coming and gracefully and quickly dodged pushing off from the bottom of the pool. Solok came up for air and she was holding onto the edge of the pool looking at him calmly. He couldn't touch the bottom and began formulating a plan.
After several moments of chasing her around the pool and getting water in his mouth they stopped, "Perhaps we should change to a different setting and see how we do as a team." Solok huffed, a little winded.
"That would be acceptable. Computer, activate program T'Pel 2 beta." She said and turned her back to Solok, and walked over to the small pond that had just formed. There were tree's all around and grass that led up to a large rock face that had a waterfall pouring into the pond. It was rather serene for its intended purpose.
"Do you have family, Captain?" she asked, remembering him asking her of her brother. She walked over to her robe and slipped it on, feeling clothing would now be appropriate.
Solok followed and did the same, taking a moment to respond, "I..." He was shortly interrupted by watching something come out of the pond and wrap itself around T'Pels neck and proceeded to pull her in. He rushed over to assist her but was tackled to the ground by another being that came from the bushes.
The creatures were humanoid in form but looked more like swamp beings with random tentacles, and he was doing his best to keep them from wrapping themselves around his neck. With his Vulcan strength he flipped the creature over on to his back, Solon straddling him as he tied his hands up with its own tentacles.
The creature laid there struggling with no avail, and Solok scanned the water for T'Pel. There seemed to be no sign of her and just as he began to remove his robe to dive in after her, he caught a glimpse of white skin climbing up the rock face. It was indeed her and she seemed to have lost her robe in the fight her eyes were scanning the water. They had an almost feral look to them and he tilted his head, content to watch just how she handled this situation as he hid behind a bush.
T'Pel had gained sufficient height on the rock face, and for a moment couldn't see her attacker. She was barely able to slip from his grasp and swim up for air, but then she spotted him crawling up behind her. Grabbing a lose rock she chucked it at her attacker, but he continued. So she waited until he got up close enough to her to dive off the rock face.
Once in the water she rushed to shore the creature hot on her tail. Once to the safety of the sand she grabbed a lose branch that was on the ground and turned, ramming it straight through the creatures throat as it nearly grabbed her. It then dissolved.
Solok came out from behind the bush and walked over to her, "You killed it." he said with disdain in his voice. He picked up her robe that had floated to the short and held it firmly in his hands, his eyes locked on her. "Why?" You could have easily restrained it once you got to shore. Their strength out of the water is mild in comparison to us Vulcans."
T'Pel stared at him, a little confused as to his reaction, "I saw the opportunity and took it." she replied calmly.
Solok shook his head and handed her the robe, "Vulcans as a race are evolved enough to use such tactics as a last resort. We must preserve life at all costs. You have disappointed me, Lieutenant." He looked over to the creature he had subdued then back to her, "If that had been me, would you have acted so hastily?"
Her stomach sank at his words. She couldn't stand the thought of disappointing him yet she hadn't quite realized she had done anything wrong, "For me to make an attempt on your life Captain, it would have to be a very dire situation. I am sorry if I have disappointed you and I will aim to rectify my fault." With that, she put her robe on and turned to leave.
Solok gave a sigh and straightened his robe, "Computer...end program."
…
Once the T'Kumbra had arrived at the Bad Lands, they had taken up position at the coordinates provided by Star Fleet. They had been there several hours and the Science team had already called a meeting.
"All normal scans have provided nothing of significance and we have run out of conventional options. Does anyone have any suggestions?" T'Lara said from the head of the table. Solok had just entered to sit in off to the side.
T'Pel looked up from her PADD, "Perhaps if we attempted a high energy tetryon scan. That may stir up enough to gather data," she suggested.
Marik, who was under T'Lara in command, spoke up, "I believe we should find other options. That could possibly take too long and there is no way of knowing what affect it may have."
"How long do you think it will take, Lieutenant?" T'Lara asked. T'Pel poked at her PADD a moment as she calculated the modification time, "To modify the Deflector Dish, about two or three hours."
Solok stepped forward, "Then proceed, T'Pel. Inform the bridge as soon as you are ready to begin the scans." He said then headed out. Marik huffed and stood to leave.
T'Lara stood, "Meet me in the Deflector control room in an hour and we will begin." T'Pel gave a nod, stood, and everyone filed out.
…
An hour passed and T'Pel and T'Lara arrived in the Deflector Control room ready to begin T'Pels modifications on the Deflector shield with a few others from the Science team. Marik included, and he eyed T'Pel as he worked on the console next to her, "I am surprised that the captain decided to let you move forward with your tetryon scan."
She looked over at him, "I cannot say that I do not share in that surprise. I have gotten the impression that Captain Solok does not care for me in the slightest." She confessed. Marik simply gave a nod and T'Lara walked up.
"The Captain is willing to give everyone aboard a chance to prove themselves, despite any prior opinion he may have of them." She said, giving T'Pel as much of a reassuring look as any Vulcan could manage.
"My objection was that it is simply unorthodox. However, I have been proven wrong before Lieutenant, Good Luck I believe is what humans would say." Marik stated, giving her a small bow.
"Your well wishes are acknowledged." T'Pel returned with the smallest of smiles, feeling a bit more relaxed around her known peers.
Two hours and forty five minutes had passed and the modifications had been finished, "the rest of you may join the captain on the bridge to monitor from there. I will stay and activate the deflector tetryon scan."
Everyone started heading out when T'Pel turned, "I would like to remain here and monitor the readings myself, if that would be acceptable."
T'Lara gave her a nod in agreement, "I figured you may. Very well. T'Lara to the bridge, we are ready to activate the scan as soon as you give the word."
"Affirmative. Wait for my word, Chief." Soloks voice sounded throughout the room. T'Pel was at her console and ready to receive the information as soon as it began to come in.
A few moments later when the rest of the science crew had arrived, Solok turned to the view screen, "Solok to Deflector Room, we are ready on the bridge. Begin when appropriate."
T'Pel gave T'Lara a nod and the Chief's fingers moved with their usual grace and precision. The two women were focused on their respective consoles, "Scan commencing..." T'Lara stated.
T'Pel, seeing some unusual readings was attempting to compensate, "I am receiving very unusual readings..."
Whatever was the problem seemed to escalate at an alarming rate and suddenly there were bright flashes of lights everywhere around the two women. T'Pel could barely make out T'Lara screaming something at her over the loud crashes of noise as the room began to shake violently.
Shortly after she was unable to see anything and was struck in the head by something that knocked her over. It was unsure of whether or not T'Lara was able to stop the scan or not, but T'Pel felt herself fade into unconsciousness.
It seemed to be hours that she was out, but when she awoke she was on a gurney headed down the corridor to what she assumed was sick bay, "What happened?" She asked weakly.
The medical officer pushing the gurney looked down at her, "It is best that you not speak just yet, Lieutenant."
The lights above were hurting her eyes and she closed them, "Where is T'Lara? Is she alright? I lost sight of her..."
"She is on the gurney behind us and seems to have suffered similar injuries to yours. Please, be silent." He said again, a bit more insistent.
T'Pel complied, drifting off again until she was hoisted onto the medical bed and she opened her eyes to see a rather thin and wiry Vulcan man standing above her. His eyes were a deep blue that nearly matched his uniform.
"Things did not go as planned I see. Pity. However it is not often we get your kind in here. Refreshing to not have another incident from Engineering." He said as he ran scans of her head and the rest of her vitals.
"My kind? You know of other Vulcan Betazoids?" She asked weakly, the lights still bothering her eyes.
"Negative. I was referring to science officers. You all seem to have a knack for avoiding injury. However I am highly curious about your anatomy, and am glad you were able to pay me a visit," he responded.
"Are you the Chief medical officer?" She asked, sure that if he was human his former comment would have been one of amusement.
"You would be correct. My name is Larkin. Pleasure to make your acquaintance." He said, poking and scanning away as if it was second nature to him. However T'Pel never really cared for Vulcan doctors bedside manner. His was even more odd then usual.
"What is the situation, Doctor? How is she?" Came a voice and T'Pel wasn't sure she heard correctly.
"The Lieutenant will recover with little assistance, Captain." Larkin responded to the shadowed figure by T'Pel's bed.
"What happened?" Solok asked, concern slightly tainting his dulcet tone. Shock came over her as she laid there motionless.
"As to the cause, you will need to talk that over with your science team. As for her injuries, a minor concussion and a few lacerations. Nothing major. In fact, she is free to return to her quarters for the rest of the evening to recover," Larkin responded, now standing over T'Lara.
T'Lara looked over at Solok, "My condition is also not so dire." she said, acknowledging the captains seeming dismissal of her presence.
"It is quite fortunate that you were both minorly harmed. I believe you need to rest the remainder of the night. Then you may continue with the complications tomorrow." Solok said, taking notice of his science chief.
"I concur." Larkin chimed in, putting away his equipment. T'Pel slowly sat up as Solok assisted her to her feet.
"The tomorrow I wish for you to go to the bridge and begin going over the readings we were able to get. See if you can find where the problem occurred. I will continue of the modification plans for the deflector dish in the lab." T'Lara said, one of the medics assisting her to her feet.
"As you wish." T'Pel said, looking to Solok, a little confused as to his seeming concern for her. Could it be she had been wrong in her original assumption that he disliked her? The headache she still had made it hard to focus too much on it, "Thank you, captain."
"Do you require assistance to your quarters? It is on my way," he asked, the usual cold calm in his voice.
"If you feel it is appropriate." She responded, regaining her balance. Solok nodded and let her walk ahead of him as they headed out.
